Bai Gui Youeryuan 4

Bai Gui Youeryuan, or 'Ghost Kindergarten,' emerged from the creative laboratories of NetEase as a playful foray into the Chinese supernatural folklore genre. Launched in the early 2020s, the series was designed to anthropomorphize traditional spirits from Chinese mythology by reimagining them as eccentric children navigating a school environment. The project reflects a broader trend in Chinese digital animation that seeks to modernize cultural icons through a whimsical, lighthearted lens, moving away from more serious or horror-oriented depictions of ghosts prevalent in earlier media.

The character design for the fourth installment maintains the series' signature aesthetic, which balances high-contrast, stylized silhouettes with expressive, exaggerated facial features tailored for short-form web streaming. NetEase aimed for an accessible tone that would appeal to a cross-generational audience, favoring humor and situational comedy over complex narrative arcs. Upon its release, the series was well-received for its polished animation quality and its ability to blend educational undertones with the quirky charm of its supernatural cast.